Vineyarders lays claim generation, the game on a Web site for future wind energy as starts the bidding process for wind power leases over a wide swathe of federal waters south of the island.

At a meeting last night the vineyard makes, the cooperative established were stable, renewable electricity for the island informed ensure members about the attributes of the different possible pages. You can vote now about a week of your preferred site.

The cooperative must in its bid before the end of the month, the time limit imposed by the federal Bureau of ocean energy management, regulation and enforcement of interest.

A request for interest (RFI) was on Dec. 29, the first step in what is anticipated, a three year process leading leasing some 3000 square miles of federal waters in an arc from Rhode Iceland to South vineyard and Nantucket and Cape Cod almost for wind turbines-granted.

"What we do a location marker on the map, is putting", said Weinberg power President Richard Andre.

"We make no commitment to develop everything but we have the property that have claimed." "Otherwise if day goes by that someone could have said it."

The members is through an interactive map of Tyler Studds, includes some 50 overlays developed for vineyard power, supports decision. The card can appear also by the public at the Weinberg power's Web site.

So people can see where the areas for wind development provided simultaneously with lobster Habitat or whale Habitat, for example.

And that Mr Andre said, will be important co op members.

"Many developers, commercial developers, just economic viability a special situation, look at will", he said. "We are looking at the economics of course, but we are that our members on our community settings, presets are layering." Surveys of our members have shown us, impact on fauna and flora is very important to you, impact on commercial fishing is very important, visuals - the turbines of the Bank look - are very important. "So, now we are at a point where we can say, certain sites more sense than others."

After decided a preferred site, but remain included "Many other bridges cross" and many variables.

Much depends on the level of support of Islanders. To your destination, economically viable, island-based power generation to stabilize electricity prices by 2015 and then cut you must reach the cooperative is a strong majority of Islanders.

So far it has a membership of just over 1000, a number of Mr Andre called "fantastic." attracted

"We have a pretty big goal, but we are very comfortable with where we are," he said.

Other decisions nor size include the potential wind farm and vineyard makes a developer would be in its own right or in partnership. "" We have always said, our members of choices: whether we own partner with a developer now above, or partner with a developer later, "said Mr Andre."None of this has changed. Much is still to be decided. "All our members on now will decide, is an application for a site where the future could be."

But the RFI date of February 28 is a milestone, makes not only for vineyard, but also for the State and federal agencies seeking interest to the construction of wind farms determine the developer.

If there is enough interest, it is a competitive tendering process; If not, the Bureau of energy management with a noncompetitive continues process.

Next Thursday two information sessions are officials from the State Executive Office of energy and Environmental Affairs and federal Bureau of ocean energy management, regulation and enforcement, together with the coast guard at the Oak Bluffs public library hold.

Topics focus the first, from 3 pm, on commercial fishing, with the Dukes County fishermen's Association.

The second, 5 p.m. will be for those with other concerns.

"Sessions serve the public officials, the fishing industry, residents and others with information about the RFI process to date and next steps", said a State press release announcing the forums.